Dr. Ted Belanger, one of Texas Back Institute’s orthopedic spine surgeons, is currently in Ethiopia where his is treating patients suffering from spinal conditions. Dr. Belanger will be sharing stories with us throughout his trip.
Below is his first blog entry!
Day 1: 3/18/2013
Arrived safe and sound this morning in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Unfortunately, I am struggling with a cold that made my first day here pretty unproductive. I am hoping this will pass quickly. I am touching base with all of our various contacts here and getting some wild cases set up. My first one might be an os odontoideum with spinal cord compression and myelopathy. Yikes.
DAY 2: 3/19/2013
I am feeling a bit better. I accomplished a great deal yesterday. I saw 11 patients with various spine deformities in the clinic and we are finalizing workups to set them up for surgery. We may transfer a patient from another hospital that needs a C1-2 fusion (or so it has been suggested). I saw some old friends and met some new ones. I went to the customs authority to work on getting our supplies released, and I had to go through three large bins of equipment and identify each item and correlate it with the itemized list (think of….this is a tap, this is a screwdriver, this is a compressor, etc.) Luckily, I didn’t have to go to the length of identifying each individual screw by diameter and length. I did my best to stay positive and hide any impatience or American ego as best I could. Despite that major obstacle being overcome, our supplies have still not been released. I am hopeful they will be later today.
Day 4: 3/21/13
Did a big case yesterday. Pedicle subtraction osteotomy for a chronic fracture that collapsed into kyphosis after being fixed with a short construct by one of the local surgeons. Made it look pretty. Have two scoliosis cases to do today, and every day until I come home…
– Ted
Dear Sir /Madam
I am writing to you requesting assistance in correcting a spinal deformity in my 15 year old daughter –Rinnah Samuel.
Rinnah was born in Botswana in 2010 to Ugandan parents Samuel and Prossy Balyejusa .
We currently reside in Uganda in a town called Iganga.
She had a normal and vibrant childhood until about 3 years ago when we noticed a twist in her spine ;changes in her gait and posture that prompted us to seek medical attention.
We visited an orthopaedic surgeon in November 2022 who diagnosed her with idiopathic scoliosis and recommended surgery overseas to correct the deformity.
The cost of specialized spine surgery overseas was overwhelmingly high and our limited strained income could barely afford such a procedure.
We decided to consult an orthopedic technician who designed a brace that she has wear for 20 hours a day . She has been using it for the last 3 years but with almost no improvement.
As I write to you now we have noticed an increase in the curvature . She also experiences episodes of excruciating limb and back pain as well as abdominal pain , discomfort ;nausea vomiting and a persistent cough unresponsive to medication.
Rinnah also gets into depression due to psychological trauma.
She is different from her peers at school who make fun about her appearance ; gait and posture.
They also talk about her persistent coughing and laugh about the matter.
Due to back pain and stiffness ;her physical activirties are constrained and she cannot participate in school games and sports.
She cannot effectively do house chores and carry loads .
As parents we are really touched and concerned about her condition at this prime stage in her teenage years .
We will appreciate your genuine counsel ;financial surgical and medical intervention in regard to Rinnah’s condition.
We indeed look forward to hear from you.
Be blessed!
Sincerely
Samuel Balyejusa